Call: Strengthening
Europe's position in the global context: science diplomacy and intercultural relations

A challenge-based approach will bring together resources and
knowledge across different fields, technologies and disciplines, including social sciences and the humanities. This will cover
activities from research to market with a new focus on innovation-related activities, such as piloting, demonstration, test-beds,
and support for public procurement and market uptake.Funding focuses on the following
challenges:

Health, demographic change and wellbeing;

Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry,
marine and maritime and inland water research, and the Bioeconomy;

Secure, clean and efficient energy;

Smart,
green and integrated transport;

Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials;

Europe
in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective societies;

Secure societies - protecting freedom and security
of Europe and its citizens.

Description of programme"Europe in a changing world - Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies"

This subprogramme will address social exclusion, discriminations and various forms of inequalities. It will explore
new forms of innovation and strengthen the evidence base for the Innovation Union, the European Research Area and other relevant
EU policies. It will promote coherent and effective cooperation with third countries. Finally, it will address the issues
of memories, identities, tolerance and cultural heritage. The approach adopted in the present calls is in line with the Horizon
2020 Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) cross-cutting issue, engaging multiple actors including society, integrating
the gender and ethical dimensions, ensuring the access to research outcomes. Some Topics deal specifically with formal and
informal (science) education.

Call

Strengthening Europe's position in the global context: science diplomacy and intercultural
relations

Description of call"Strengthening Europe's position in the global
context: science diplomacy and intercultural relations"

Europe is faced with numerous challenges that are increasingly
global in nature and that have become of more immediate importance: peace and stability, migration, climate change, resource
efficiency, health pandemics, etc. In many cases, responding to these challenges requires science-based evidence to inform
decisions and joint international efforts that often include also scientific and technological cooperation. This is where
science and diplomacy can join forces to form a 'soft power' tool in external policy – science diplomacy.

A main challenge is how to best link scientific expertise and cooperation with diplomacy and political influence
to tackle major global challenges, promote knowledge and improve international relations. Science diplomacy has a particular
added value in providing additional communication channels, particularly in stalemate situations and relations where few other
mechanisms are feasible as well as on sensitive bilateral and multilateral issues. It promotes cooperation and conflict prevention,
rebuilds trust and fosters shared understanding across countries, regions and cultures.

Addressing this
challenge requires a great dose of (self) reflexivity about European diplomacy, Europe's own history and its interactions
with third countries, regions, cultures and religions. It calls for a continued investment in fostering scientific, political,
economic, social and cultural relations with other non-European global actors on all continents, and for ways in which to
sustain scientific and intercultural exchanges that effectively enhance mutual understanding despite differences.

The research to address this challenge should in particular focus on the following key dimensions:

Using science in the context of European diplomacy

European culture, values and reflections of Europe's colonial
past in contemporary European societies

Global trends of secularisation and religious radicalisation and the role
of Europe

At least 1 proposal per topic will be selected for funding provided it passes all evaluation
thresholds

At least three legal entities. Each of the three must
be established in a different EU Member State or Horizon 2020 associated country. All three legal entities must be independent
of each other.

Recurring Call

No

Type
of Funding

Grant

Financial details

The Commission considers that
proposals requesting a contribution from the EU in the order of 2.5 million € for each dimension would allow this specific
challenge to be addressed appropriately. This does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.